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Statement: Distillery Fire

At 09.58 this morning WMFS’ Fire Control team received several calls reporting a severe fire and explosion at a commercial premises in Hall Street, Oldbury.

Five fire appliances from around Birmingham and the Black Country were initially sent to scene.

On arrival, firefighters were confronted by a huge blaze in a three storey gin distillery measuring approximately 20 metres by 60 metres, occupying some 12,000 square feet, and involving 4,000 litres of heptane fluid. A further ten appliances including a hydraulic platform were requested to attend.

Crews have been on the scene throughout the morning tackling the blaze. A 100 metre safety cordon is in place. A number of people were evacuated from premises nearby as a precaution, and one man believed to have sustained flash burns, was taken to hospital by ambulance. Surrounding roads have been closed and rail services in the area were stopped

At 14:50 there are more than 100 firefighters on the scene tackling the blaze and the 100 metre exclusion cordon remains in place, with residents in homes nearby advised to keep windows and doors closed. Crews are also working with the environment agency to prevent water run-off to the river Tame and rail services are still suspended.

This is a protracted incident and fire crews will be on the scene throughout the night. Anyone considering returning to their property will need to report to police officers at the outer cordon in the first instance.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Phil Loach said: “This is an extremely challenging incident and we are working hard with our emergency services colleagues and other supporting agencies to bring the incident to a safe conclusion “

Issued by Jeremy Sharpe, West Midlands Fire Service’s Media Relations Office. Telephone 0121 380 6100. Regular updates on incident and other WMFS activities can be found on the media voicebank on 0871 550 0056.